Authors: Jin Park, Chang-Seop Lee

Topics: Aged; Amputation, Surgical; Humans; Male; Vibrio Infections; Vibrio vulnificus

PubMed: 30044934
DOI: 10.1056/NEJMicm1716464

Authors: Elizabeth J Archer, Craig Baker-Austin, Timothy J Osborn...

Vibrio vulnificus is an opportunistic bacterial pathogen, occurring in warm low-salinity waters. V. vulnificus wound infections due to seawater exposure are infrequent but mortality rates are high (~ 18%). Seawater bacterial concentrations are increasing but changing disease pattern assessments or climate change projections are rare. Here, using a 30-year database of V. vulnificus cases for the Eastern USA, changing disease distribution was assessed. An ecological niche model was developed, trained and validated to identify links to oceanographic and climate data. This model was used to predict future disease distribution using data simulated by seven Global Climate Models (GCMs) which belong to the newest Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6). Risk was estimated by calculating the total population within 200 km of the disease distribution. Predictions were generated for different "pathways" of global socioeconomic development which incorporate projections of greenhouse gas emissions and demographic change. In Eastern USA between 1988 and 2018, V. vulnificus wound infections increased eightfold (10-80 cases p.a.) and the northern case limit shifted northwards 48 km p.a. By 2041-2060, V. vulnificus infections may expand their current range to encompass major population centres around New York (40.7°N). Combined with a growing and increasingly elderly population, annual case numbers may double. By 2081-2100 V. vulnificus infections may be present in every Eastern USA State under medium-to-high future emissions and warming. The projected expansion of V. vulnificus wound infections stresses the need for increased individual and public health awareness in these areas.

Topics: Humans; Aged; Vibrio vulnificus; Vibrio Infections; North America; Wound Infection

PubMed: 36959189
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-28247-2

Authors: Kyle D Brumfield, Arlene J Chen, Mayank Gangwar...

Incidence of vibriosis is rising globally, with evidence that changing climatic conditions are influencing environmental factors that enhance growth of pathogenic spp. in aquatic ecosystems. To determine the impact of environmental factors on occurrence of pathogenic spp., samples were collected in the Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, during 2009 to 2012 and 2019 to 2022. Genetic markers for Vibrio vulnificus () and Vibrio parahaemolyticus (, , and ) were enumerated by direct plating and DNA colony hybridization. Results confirmed seasonality and environmental parameters as predictors. Water temperature showed a linear correlation with and , and two critical thresholds were observed, an initial increase in detectable numbers (>15°C) and a second increase when maximum counts were recorded (>25°C). Temperature and pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus ( and ) were not strongly correlated; however, the evidence showed that these organisms persist in oyster and sediment at colder temperatures. Salinity (10 to 15 ppt), total chlorophyll (5 to 25 μg/L), dissolved oxygen (5 to 10 mg/L), and pH (8) were associated with increased abundance of and . Importantly, a long-term increase in spp. numbers was observed in water samples between the two collection periods, specifically at Tangier Sound (lower bay), with the evidence suggesting an extended seasonality for these bacteria in the area. Notably, showed a mean positive increase that was ca. 3-fold overall, with the most significant increase observed during the fall. In conclusion, vibriosis continues to be a risk in the Chesapeake Bay region. A predictive intelligence system to assist decision makers, with respect to climate and human health, is warranted. The genus includes pathogenic species that are naturally occurring in marine and estuarine environments globally. Routine monitoring for species and environmental parameters influencing their incidence is critical to provide a warning system for the public when the risk of infection is high. In this study, occurrence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus, both potential human pathogens, in Chesapeake Bay water, oysters, and sediment samples collected over a 13-year period was analyzed. The results provide a confirmation of environmental predictors for these bacteria, notably temperature, salinity, and total chlorophyll , and their seasonality of occurrence. New findings refine environmental parameter thresholds of culturable species and document a long-term increase in populations in the Chesapeake Bay. This study provides a valuable foundation for development of predicative risk intelligence models for incidence during climate change.

Topics: Animals; Humans; Vibrio parahaemolyticus; Vibrio vulnificus; Chlorophyll A; Ecosystem; Ostreidae; Vibrio Infections; Water

PubMed: 37222620
DOI: 10.1128/aem.00307-23

Review

Authors: Yuan Yuan, Zihan Feng, Jinglin Wang...

The () hemolysin (VVH) is a pore-forming cholesterol-dependent cytolysin (CDC). Although there has been some debate surrounding the virulence effects of the VVH, it is becoming increasingly clear that it drives different cellular outcomes and is involved in the pathogenesis of . This minireview outlines recent advances in our understanding of the regulation of gene expression, the biological activity of the VVH and its role in pathogenesis. An in-depth examination of the role of the VVH in pathogenesis will help reveal the potential targets for therapeutic and preventive interventions to treat fatal septicemia in humans. Future directions in VVH research will also be discussed.

Topics: Animals; Bacterial Proteins; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; Hemolysin Proteins; Humans; Vibrio Infections; Vibrio vulnificus

PubMed: 33193453
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.599439

Authors: James W Conrad, Valerie J Harwood

Vibrio vulnificus is a naturally occurring, potentially lethal pathogen found in coastal waters, fish, and shellfish. Sewage spills in coastal waters occur when infrastructure fails due to severe storms or age, and may affect bacterial populations by altering nutrient levels. This study investigated effects of sewage on clonal and natural V. vulnificus populations in microcosms. Addition of 1% sewage to estuarine water caused the density of a pure culture of V. vulnificus CMCP6 and a natural V. vulnificus population to increase significantly, by two to three orders of magnitude, whether measured by quantitative PCR (qPCR) or culture and in batch and continuous cultures. Changes in the transcription of six virulence- and survival-associated genes in response to sewage were assessed using continuous culture. Exposure to sewage affected transcription of genes that may be associated with virulence, i.e., it modulated the oxidative stress response by altering superoxide dismutase transcription, significantly increasing transcription while repressing Sewage also repressed transcription of which encodes a sodium-phosphate cotransporter. Sewage had no effect on transcription or the putative virulence-associated genes or The effects of environmentally relevant levels of sewage on V. vulnificus populations and gene transcription suggest that sewage spills that impact warm coastal waters could lead to an increased risk of V. vulnificus infections. Vibrio vulnificus infections have profound impacts such as limb amputation and death for individuals with predisposing conditions. The warming climate is contributing to rising V. vulnificus prevalence in waters that were previously too cold to support high levels of the pathogen. Climate change is also expected to increase precipitation in many regions, which puts more pressure on wastewater infrastructure and will result in more frequent sewage spills. The finding that 1% wastewater in estuarine water leads to 100 to over 1,000-fold greater V. vulnificus concentrations suggests that human exposure to oysters and estuarine water could have greater health impacts in the future. Further, wastewater had a significant effect on gene transcription and has the potential to affect virulence during the initial environment-to-host transition.

Topics: Animals; Fishes; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; Humans; Ostreidae; Seafood; Sewage; Transcription, Genetic; Vibrio Infections; Vibrio vulnificus; Virulence

PubMed: 35171011
DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01913-21

Authors: Jie Li, Yiqing Zhu, Zhenxia Ma...

Vibrio vulnificus is an opportunistic pathogen that naturally inhabits sea water globally and is responsible for most vibriosis-related deaths. The consumption of V. vulnificus contaminated seafood and exposure of wounds to Vibrio can result in systemic infection, with increased risks of amputation and extremely high rates of mortality. However, the pathogenicity and virulence factors of V. vulnificus are not fully understood. The genomic characterization of V. vulnificus will be helpful to extend our understanding on V. vulnificus at a genomic level. In this manuscript, the genome of V. vulnificus strain MCCC 1A08743 isolated from contaminated prawns from Zhanjiang, China, was sequenced using Illumina HiSeq X Ten system and annotated through multiple databases. The strain MCCC 1A08743 genome included 4371 protein-coding genes and 117 RNA genes. Average nucleotide identity analysis and core genome phylogenetic analysis revealed that MCCC 1A08743 was most closely related to strains from clinical samples from the United States. Pathogenicity annotation of the MCCC 1A08743 genome, using Virulence Factor Database and Pathogen-Host Interactions database, predicted the pathogenicity of the strain, and this was confirmed using mice infection experiments, which indicated that V. vulnificus strain MCCC 1A08743 could infect C57BL/6J mice and cause liver lesions. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.

Topics: Animals; Humans; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Phylogeny; Seafood; Vibrio vulnificus; Virulence

PubMed: 35766638
DOI: 10.1242/bio.059299

Review

Authors: Abdelaziz Elgaml, Shin-Ichi Miyoshi

Vibrio vulnificus, a gram-negative halophilic estuarine bacterium, is an opportunistic human pathogen that causes rapidly progressive fatal septicemia and necrotizing wound infection. This species also causes hemorrhagic septicemia called vibriosis in cultured eels. It has been proposed that a range of virulence factors play roles in pathogenesis during human and/or eel infection. Among these factors, a metalloprotease (V. vulnificus protease [VVP]) and a cytolytic toxin (V. vulnificus hemolysin [VVH]) are of significant importance. VVP elicits the characteristic edematous and hemorrhagic skin damage, whereas VVH exhibits powerful hemolytic and cytolytic activities and contributes to bacterial invasion from the intestine to the blood stream. In addition, a few V. vulnificus strains isolated from diseased eels have recently been found to produce a serine protease designated as V. vulnificus serine protease (VvsA) instead of VVP. Similarly to VVP, VvsA may possess various toxic activities such as collagenolytic, cytotoxic and edema-forming activity. In this review, regulation of V. vulnificus VVP, VVH and VvsA is clarified in terms of expression at the mRNA and protein levels. The explanation is given on the basis of the quorum sensing system, which is dependent on bacterial cell density. In addition, the roles of environmental factors and global regulators, such as histone-like nucleoid structuring protein, cyclic adeno monophosphate receptor protein, RpoS, HlyU, Fur, ToxRS, AphB and LeuO, in this regulation are outlined. The cumulative impact of these regulatory systems on the pathogenicity of V. vulnificus is here delineated.

Topics: Animals; Bacterial Proteins; Hemolysin Proteins; Humans; Metalloendopeptidases; Metalloproteases; RNA, Messenger; Vibrio vulnificus; Virulence Factors

PubMed: 28111826
DOI: 10.1111/1348-0421.12465

Review

Authors: Jane M Jayakumar, Jaime Martinez-Urtaza, Kyle D Brumfield...

Climate change is having increasingly profound effects on human health, notably those associated with the occurrence, distribution, and transmission of infectious diseases. The number of disparate ecological parameters and pathogens affected by climate change are vast and expansive. Disentangling the complex relationship between these variables is critical for the development of effective countermeasures against its effects. The pathogen Vibrio vulnificus, a naturally occurring aquatic bacterium that causes fulminant septicemia, represents a quintessential climate-sensitive organism. In this review, we use V. vulnificus as a model organism to elucidate the intricate network of interactions between climatic factors and pathogens, with the objective of identifying common patterns by which climate change is affecting their disease burden. Recent findings indicate that in regions native to V. vulnificus or related pathogens, climate-driven natural disasters are the chief contributors to their disease outbreaks. Concurrently, climate change is increasing the environmental suitability of areas non-endemic to their diseases, promoting a surge in their natural populations and transmission dynamics, thus elevating the risk of new outbreaks. We highlight potential risk factors and climatic drivers aggravating the threat of V. vulnificus transmission under both scenarios and propose potential measures for mitigating its impact. By defining the mechanisms by which climate change influences V. vulnificus disease burden, we aim to shed light on the transmission dynamics of related disease-causing agents, thereby laying the groundwork for early warning systems and broadly applicable control measures.

Topics: Vibrio vulnificus; Climate Change; Humans; Vibrio Infections; Animals; Disease Outbreaks; Communicable Diseases

PubMed: 39680617
DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012767

Review

Authors: Melissa K Jones, James D Oliver

Topics: Animals; Humans; Vibrio Infections; Vibrio vulnificus; Virulence; Virulence Factors

PubMed: 19255188
DOI: 10.1128/IAI.01046-08

Authors: Laura Cutugno, Conor O'Byrne, Jan Pané-Farré...

Rifampicin resistance, which is genetically linked to mutations in the RNA polymerase β-subunit gene rpoB, has a global impact on bacterial transcription and cell physiology. Previously, we identified a substitution of serine 522 in RpoB (i.e., RpoB ) conferring rifampicin resistance to Vibrio vulnificus, a human food-borne and wound-infecting pathogen associated with a high mortality rate. Transcriptional and physiological analysis of V. vulnificus expressing RpoB showed increased basal transcription of stress-related genes and global virulence regulators. Phenotypically these transcriptional changes manifest as disturbed osmo-stress responses and toxin-associated hypervirulence as shown by reduced hypoosmotic-stress resistance and enhanced cytotoxicity of the RpoB strain. These results suggest that RpoB-linked rifampicin resistance has a significant impact on V. vulnificus survival in the environment and during infection.

Topics: Humans; Rifampin; Vibrio vulnificus; Bacterial Proteins; Mutation; Virulence; DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases

PubMed: 37877661
DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.1379